Boston (72-62) at LA Angels (64-71)
When: Friday, August 30, 2019
Where: Angel Stadium,
Anaheim, CA
Time: 10:07 ET | TV: NESN, FS West
Opening Odds: Boston -135/8.5
The Boston Red Sox have been playing much better lately, but they can’t seem to gain any ground on the red-hot Oakland A’s in the American League wild card standings. Boston prepares for their last set of games West of the Rockies when they conclude an eight-game road trip with the first of three at the slumping Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. The Red Sox have won four of their first five on the trip and nine of 12 overall, are still 5.5 games behind the A’s for the second wild card spot with Tampa Bay 4.5 in front of Boston. The offense had fun in a two-game sweep at Colorado earlier this week with Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez going a combined 8-for-14 with four home runs in Wednesday’s 7-4 victory over the Rockies. The Angels season is over as they start looking forward to a brighter future and might be without superstar Mike Trout on Friday after he sat out Wednesday’s 3-0 loss at Texas with a foot injury. The Angels have lost six of their last seven and reside 14 games out of contention. L.A. managed to split a four-game series at Fenway Park earlier this month and will send rookie Jose Suarez to the hill to oppose Boston’s Nathan Eovaldi.
Pitchers: Red Sox – Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 6.64 ERA) | Angels – Jose Suarez (2-5, 6.67)
Eovaldi has not been very good, but the Red Sox have won five of his six starts this season thanks to a ton of run support. He’s been allowed to throw just 107 pitches combined over his last two starts since returning from a three-month elbow injury abscence and lasted only three innings last time out in a 5-4 win at San Diego. Eovaldi is 2-1 with a 4.45 ERA in seven games (five starts) against the Angels including two relief appearances against them this season.
Suarez hasn’t won a game since beating Tampa Bay on June 15th and the Angels have lost each of his last five starts. He allowed three runs, seven hits and two walks over 4.2 innings of a 5-4 loss at Houston last Friday night. Suarez, who has never faced Boston, is 0-3 with a 6.93 ERA at home.
The Red Sox come in with some momentum and are trying to get back in the playoff picture, while the Angels keep falling. Look for the offense to support Eovaldi enough to pull out a victory.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Friday. He is 119-81 +2603 units on the season after a 20-8 run!
Pick: Red Sox -135
BETTING TRENDS:
Red Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Red Sox are 7-1 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Red Sox are 6-1 in their last 7 road games.
Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
Red Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 Friday games.
Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
Red Sox are 6-2 in their last 8 games following a win.
Red Sox are 6-2 in their last 8 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Red Sox are 61-22 in their last 83 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
Red Sox are 43-16 in their last 59 vs. a team with a losing record.
Red Sox are 15-6 in their last 21 during game 1 of a series.
Red Sox are 5-2 in their last 7 games following an off day.
Red Sox are 36-15 in their last 51 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Red Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Red Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Red Sox are 7-1 in Eovaldi’s last 8 starts.
Red Sox are 7-1 in Eovaldi’s last 8 starts on grass.
Red Sox are 5-1 in Eovaldi’s last 6 road starts.
Red Sox are 4-1 in Eovaldi’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Red Sox are 5-2 in Eovaldi’s last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Angels are 5-2 in their last 7 home games.
Angels are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Angels are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Angels are 2-7 in their last 9 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Angels are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a loss.
Angels are 2-8 in their last 10 during game 1 of a series.
Angels are 2-8 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
Angels are 1-6 in their last 7 overall.
Angels are 2-12 in their last 14 Friday games.
Angels are 1-6 in their last 7 games on grass.
Angels are 1-4 in Suarez’s last 5 home starts.
Angels are 0-5 in Suarez’s last 5 starts.
Angels are 0-5 in Suarez’s last 5 starts on grass.
Angels are 0-4 in Suarez’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-0-1 in Red Sox last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 3-0-1 in Red Sox last 4 games following a win.
Over is 15-5-2 in Red Sox last 22 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 10-4 in Red Sox last 14 vs. American League West.
Over is 15-6-3 in Red Sox last 24 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 45-19-2 in Red Sox last 66 games following an off day.
Under is 7-3-1 in Red Sox last 11 overall.
Under is 7-3-1 in Red Sox last 11 on grass.
Over is 7-3 in Red Sox last 10 Friday games.
Over is 7-3 in Red Sox last 10 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 41-19-2 in Red Sox last 62 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 1-0-3 in Eovaldi’s last 4 starts with 5 days of rest.
Over is 3-0-1 in Eovaldi’s last 4 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 7-1-2 in Eovaldi’s last 10 starts on grass.
Over is 7-1-2 in Eovaldi’s last 10 starts overall.
Over is 4-1-1 in Eovaldi’s last 6 road starts.
Over is 3-1-1 in Eovaldi’s last 5 starts following an outing of less than 4 innings in his last appearance.
Over is 3-1-1 in Eovaldi’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 6-1 in Angels last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 6-1-1 in Angels last 8 Friday games.
Over is 6-1 in Angels last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Angels last 5 games following an off day.
Under is 4-1 in Angels last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Angels last 5 on grass.
Over is 8-2 in Angels last 10 home games.
Over is 7-2 in Angels last 9 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Over is 9-3 in Angels last 12 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 9-3 in Angels last 12 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 10-4-1 in Angels last 15 vs. American League East.
Under is 9-4 in Angels last 13 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 11-5-1 in Angels last 17 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 9-2-1 in Suarez’s last 12 starts overall.
Over is 8-2 in Suarez’s last 10 starts on grass.
Over is 4-1 in Suarez’s last 5 home starts.
Over is 3-1-1 in Suarez’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Over is 3-1-1 in Suarez’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Los Angeles.
Red Sox are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
Red Sox are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Los Angeles.
